Thursday, December 22, 2016

Naupaka Blooming: A Hawaiian Reincarnation Romance by J.L. Eck - Review





They weren’t supposed to fall in love. Now dark forces conspire to keep them apart, in this life and the next.

In ancient Hawaii, after an auspicious encounter with a sea turtle, her family guardian spirit animal, young princess Leilani unexpectedly falls in love with Kanoa, a commoner. In spite of being forbidden from each other, the young lovers believe they have the blessings of the gods. But when dark forces intervene their relationship ends in tragedy. Ever after, the naupaka flower, a symbol of their love, mourns Leilani and Kanoa by growing with only half its petals.

Centuries later, Liz finds herself navigating a new life in Hawaii, the land of her ancestors. Between making new friends and romantic pursuits, she learns of the naupaka flower and its tragic love story. She has a strange encounter with a sea turtle and then learns that the sea turtle is her ancestors' guardian spirit animal. And then she finds herself intensely drawn to a local man she’s never met before. Or has she? With persistent feelings of deja vu and vivid dreams about what seems to be a prior life, she wonders. But dark forces gather against Liz now, much as they gathered against Leilani so long ago. Will Liz finally find the love she’s always wanted, or will she -- like Leilani before her -- be caught up in a tragedy as old as the naupaka story itself?

Naupaka Blooming is a contemporary coming-of-age love story set on the beautiful island of Oahu. If you like tropical settings, cultural exploration, a little fantasy mixed in with a little romance and compelling stories linking the past and present, then you’ll love this exotic novel from J.L. Eck.


 
My Review: 

An engaging tale that had me hooked from the start.

The book opens telling the story of an ancient Hawaiian princess and her forbidden love and how both of their lives end tragically.  It is the author's version of the myth of the naupaka flower.  The rest of the book is about Liz and her adventures living in Paradise and discovering who she really is.

Liz moved to Hawaii after she inherited her great-grandmother's house.  It’s a chance to start a whole new life.  She has no idea the impact Hawaii would have on her.   She meets new friends, starts dating again, struggles to find the perfect job and learns new things about Hawaiian culture.  But what Liz doesn’t understand are the mysterious dreams that she keeps having.  What are her dreams trying to tell her?  Could they be clues from a past life?

After a near death experience, Liz finally gets answers to her dreams.  She learns who she really is and the man she is dating is the final piece of the puzzle.

I admit the cover grabbed my attention first, but the premise really made me want to read it.  I love anything to do with Hawaii and it’s legends. The scenes were easy to picture with all of the descriptions.  It brought back memories of my trips with the mentions of different locations.  I couldn't help but be pulled towards these characters and into their lives.  The writer has a way with words making this story very addictive and one that I won't forget for a long time.

 

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